Cougar Cross-Country, Soccer Entering Home Stretch of Season

With the fall season entering the home stretch before conference championships, the CSUSM cross-country and soccer teams are hitting their stride and looking poised to make big post-season runs.

The Cougars' #2-ranked and defending national champion women's cross-country team has had a strong season so far, and has just one meet remaining before the team will defend its conference championship on its home course November 6th. Coach Steve Scott's squad has posted some impressive results recently, including the Pomona Pitzer Invitational, which CSUSM dominated by placing five runners in the top-nine finishers. Led by breakout star Jennifer Albright and returning All-Americans Cady Villarreal and Jessica Sandoval, the squad appears ready to put up a strong fight at November's NAIA National Championships.

Meanwhile, the #13-ranked men's cross-country team is showing a lot of promise for the post-season as well. The men joined the women in the winner's circle at Pomona Pitzer, led by Western Nelson, who finished first in the field of over 150 runners. Along with two-time track & field All-American Brett Campfield, Nelson is set to lead the team into the November 6th Conference Championships, where CSUSM will look to defend its title.

On the pitch, Coach Ron Pulvers' men's and women's soccer teams have both been on fire since they returned from a mid-season break. The men, now with an impressive 7-2-2 record and on the verge of being ranked for the first time in program history, have rattled off three straight wins and are on a five-game unbeaten streak that includes a big 2-0 road win over #24 Concordia. On the women's side, after a mid-season goal scoring drought, the Cougar offense has kicked it into high gear. Led by Lauren Johnson's two consecutive hat tricks, the women's soccer team has outscored opponents 16-1 in its last three games.Ranked #15 this week, the two-time defending conference championship Cougars will look to defend that title in early November, and potentially host an opening round NAIA National Championship match for the second time in program history.